Europe continues to dominate Namibia’s beef export market, capturing an impressive 79.6% share of the total 640,650 kilograms shipped in January 2024.
Meanwhile, China emerged as a key player in the ‘rest of the world’ category, securing 25,122 kilograms of Namibian beef.
African nations, led by South Africa, accounted for 16.5% of the exports, importing around 105,716 kilograms.
“Europe remains a dominant destination for Namibian beef exports, representing a substantial portion of the total exports. South Africa stands out as a significant African market, demonstrating the importance of regional trade relationships,” said Simonis Storm Researcher Halleluya Ndimulunde.
She added that China’s emergence as a key market emphasizes Namibia’s success in diversifying its export destinations and tapping into growing economies.
“Overall, the distribution highlights the strength of Namibian beef in international markets and the effectiveness of strategic export initiatives,” said Ndimulunde.
In January 2024, livestock marketing activities increased to 66,897 head, marking an increase from the 53,804 head recorded in the previous January and a slight decline from the 79,148 head marketed in December 2023.
Specifically, cattle marketing saw an increase, with 20,398 head marketed compared to 12,659 heads in December 2023.
According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, the growth in the cattle sector is credited to increased exports of weaners to South Africa, primarily due to anticipated improvements in grain harvests that would enhance feeding margins.
Furthermore, goat marketing witnessed an uptick, with 6,596 goats marketed during January 2024 compared to 5,554 goats during the same period in 2023.
Similarly, the pig sector also experienced growth, with 4,306 pigs marketed through approved abattoirs during January 2024, reflecting a 13.6% increase from the 3,791 pigs marketed in January 2023. Sheep, however, dominated the market, with 35,597 heads marketed in January 2024.
In terms of fish, Ndimulunde noted that the sector maintained its status as one of the non-mineral products among the top five exported items, securing the third position on the list and contributing 9.6% to total exports.
“Primarily, fish exports were directed towards Spain, Zambia, and Mozambique during December 2023, resulting in a trade surplus of N$1.1 billion for the month of December 2023. The value of domestic fish exports saw a year-on-year increase of 15.2% in December 2023, compared to the 20.0% year-on-year growth recorded in November 2023,” she said.
